Elk like to bed down in the grass to relax and take a load off, but that isn't an invitation to approach them. It certainly shouldn't be looked at as an opportunity to pet one, either. For your and the animal's safety, never approach a wild animal and keep 25 yards away. The safety recommendation is vital during rutting and calving seasons when elk are more territorial and aggressive than normal.
One family apparently missed the memo not to approach a bull, as they can be seen encouraging a young man to walk up and attempt to touch the animal in a recently-shared online clip. The video, posted on Instagram account @Touronsofyellowstone, captures the ill-advised interaction.
View this post on Instagram
The clip starts by showing a bull relaxing in the grass, mostly covered with only his antlers and the top of his head visibly sticking out. But he is just noticeable enough that these tourists felt they had an open invitation to invade his personal bubble.
As the young man walks up to the resting elk, he bends down to get at eye level with the ungulate. Much like most people would approach an unfamiliar dog, he sticks out his hand, first putting it out, then down. When he takes a small step forward and the elk looks away, prompting the man to stand upright.
He should have abandoned the idea then and there, but it seemed like his family encouraged him to keep pushing the elk's patience. In a flash the elk hops to his feet, no longer wanting to be bothered, and gets his antlers angled toward the man. The sudden movement causes the man to jump back, almost falling over in the process.
The young man stumbles out of the way just as the bull gives out an ear-piercing bugle and walks off in the other direction. Let that be a warning! As online viewers pointed out in the comments, the man is very lucky he didn't get gored.
READ MORE: Everything You Need to Know Before Planning a Colorado Elk Hunt
